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Could Pesticides Be Pushing Early Menopause?

You go to the grocery store.  You find yourself staring at the beautiful, red, ripe strawberries, their packages piled up in an eye-catching display–and on sale, no less.  But right as you reach for the package, you notice in the corner of your eye a similar beautiful display on a nearby endcap, but with an accompanying sign that indicates “Organic”, and an accompanying price point that reflects this.  You’ve heard that organic options may reduce pesticide exposure, and so you begin doing the mental math on if “organic” means “healthy” for your budget as well.  


Right as you’re doing the math, though, a sudden and amazingly inconvenient hot flash sweeps over you.  No way.  You’ve been seeing the signs for months, but it’s hard to just accept this.  Isn’t it way too early to be experiencing menopause?  Ugh.  You grab a box of strawberries, head to the checkout, hold back irritation at everyone’s slow pace, and make a mental note–which you will likely forget because of brain fog–to demand answers from your doctor about early onset menopause.


The Hidden Connection Between Pesticides and Hormone Health

This is only one simple grocery store moment.  But is there actually a connection between everyday environmental exposures and women’s reproductive health? The strawberries in the produce aisle represent more than just a grocery decision. Conventionally grown produce is one of the most common sources of pesticide exposure in everyday life. While these chemicals are designed to control agricultural pests, they may also interact with hormonal systems--including reproductive health and the timing of menopause.


Pesticides and Early Onset Menopause–Is There a Connection?

Pesticides are widely used across agricultural, residential, and public health settings, resulting in pervasive human exposure through food, drinking water, soil, and air (Neff et al., 2022). Many of these compounds are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), meaning they can interfere with hormonal signaling pathways that regulate critical physiological processes, including reproduction. Because female reproductive function is tightly controlled by endocrine signaling, pesticide exposure has raised increasing concern as a potential contributor to reproductive aging and ovarian dysfunction. Research has identified the ovary as a key target organ for pesticide toxicity, with evidence linking exposure to impaired ovarian function and altered timing of reproductive milestones (Wang et al., 2025). One potential consequence of such disruption is a shift in the timing of menopause—the natural stage in a woman’s reproductive life characterized by declining fertility, depletion of ovarian follicles, and reductions in hormones such as estrogen and progesterone (Neff et al., 2022).


Are those conventionally grown strawberries worth a few saved pennies?  Before we answer that, let’s see what researchers are saying.  In 2022, Neff et al. reviewed numerous previous studies and affirmed that the chemicals in pesticides “can accelerate reproductive aging and lead to an earlier age at onset of menopause.”  In 2024, Inman & Flaws affirmed this, asserting, based on their own research, that “pesticides are associated with reproductive aging in women and animal models.”  And just last year, Wang et al. (2025) concluded as well that pesticides are definitively related to early onset menopause, disrupting the estrous cycle and altering hormone levels.


Soooo….is that a bad thing?

For a woman experiencing early onset menopause, the answer to this question is obvious (insert eye roll).  But what about those who are not?  Menopause is a natural stage of the female reproductive life, right?  Does it really matter if it comes a few years ahead of schedule?  

The answer is a resounding yes–and for several reasons.  Early onset menopause significantly affects a woman’s quality of life, even beyond measures of comfort.  While menopause certainly introduces uncomfortable vasomotor symptoms (think hot flashes as an example), it also increases her risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, depression, and even premature death (Neff et al., 2022).  Furthermore, pesticide exposure not only is associated with the early onset of menopause, but also with more intense menopausal symptoms (Inman & Flaws, 2024).  This is in addition to the experience of a shortened reproductive lifespan, limiting a woman’s ability to have children later in life, if that is one of her goals.


How, Exactly, Do Pesticides Work to Cause Early Onset Menopause?

Pesticides impact ovarian function, potentially leading to early onset menopause, through several different mechanisms.  Some of these are very direct.  For example, pesticides can directly influence steroid receptors.  They act as endocrine disruptors by binding to estrogen or androgen receptors; acting as agonists or antagonists (mimicking or blocking hormones, respectively); and/or altering receptor expression levels.  This disrupts the normal signaling required for follicle growth, egg cell maturation, ovulation, and hormonal feedback loops (Wang et al., 2025).  They can also directly influence hormone synthesis.  Pesticides can interfere with enzymes involved in ovarian hormone production, leading to reduced estradiol production, altered progesterone levels, disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, irregular cycles and diminished ovarian reserve. (Wang et al., 2025).


Pesticides can also work very indirectly.  For example, they can cause oxidative stress by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ovarian tissue (Wang et al., 2025).  This overwhelms the ovary’s antioxidant defenses, accelerates follicle loss, promotes ovarian mitochondrial dysfunction, and leads to damaged egg cells and reduced ovarian reserve.  All of this cumulatively contributes to premature ovarian aging, which can manifest as early onset menopause.  Furthermore, pesticides can activate inflammatory pathways, which can also contribute to the reduced ovarian reserve and increased ovarian dysfunction that can lead to premature ovarian aging and early onset menopause (Wang et al., 2025).  Finally, pesticides can cause epigenetic modifications, altering gene regulation, potentially disrupting hormone signaling pathways.  This serves as yet another indirect path to premature follicle depletion, and therefore a potentially fast-track path to early onset menopause (Wang et al., 2025)


Yikes!  What’s a midlife mamma to do?

The picture certainly seems grim at the moment.  But never fear–there are steps you can take to reduce your pesticide exposure, protect your ovarian health, and potentially stave off menopause until her due date–without going broke just because you want to enjoy a few pesticide-free strawberries.

Choose organic whole foods and minimally processed organic foods--with financial strategy.  While people are exposed to pesticides from numerous sources, eating foods that are treated with pesticides is a major source.  The good news is that switching to organic foods can help “detox” your system from pesticides in a relatively short amount of time.  Hyland et al. (2019) found that getting people to switch from a conventional diet to using only organic foods created a significant decrease in urinary levels of pesticide output in just six days.


“But Lauren, organic produce is expensive.”  This is true.  If the affordability of organic produce is a major barrier, then let’s talk strategy.  The Environmental Working Group (2025a and 2025b), a non-profit environmental advocacy group, has created lists entitled the “Clean Fifteen” (2025a) and the “Dirty Dozen” (2025b) to help us make strategic, affordable choices when it comes to buying produce.  The “Dirty Dozen” is a list of non-organic produce that tend to have the highest amounts of pesticide residues; while the “Clean Fifteen” is a list of non-organic produce that tend to have the lowest amounts of pesticide residues.  The idea is that, when you are trying to make more affordable choices that will also reduce the amount of pesticides you consume, plan to buy anything from the “Dirty Dozen” list–such as strawberries, apples, or potatoes–from the organic section; while anything you buy that is on the “Clean Fifteen” list–such as avocados, cauliflower, or mangos–will likely be ok to buy from the non-organic section.  We recognize of course that buying it all organic would be ideal, but if that’s not happening today, then pull out your Clean Fifteen list to help you save a few pennies!


Grow your own garden, and do it organically. Hey, it’s a start.  It’s not going to solve the big picture problems here.  But even growing your own herbs in the windowsill is one less food you’re consuming that has pesticides in it.  And if you can grow a full-fledged outdoor vegetable garden using organic methods, even better.  The point is that we want to focus on the things we can control as much as possible.  Not only that, creatively using even small spaces can save a few dollars at the grocery store.  One organically grown cherry tomato plant on your porch, for example, whether you bought a pack of seeds or a small starter plant at the store, will pay you back many times over than the expensive little handful you’ll pay for at the grocery store.


Let’s be better advocates of integrated pest management. Pesticides are actually very beneficial.  Let’s not lose sight of the fact that their use in protecting crops from pests, disease, and weeds allows us to feed the world and reduce food waste (Lazarević-Pašti et al., 2025).  However, there are other ways.  And when we say that, we are not necessarily implying that other ways are the only ways.  Rather, we are saying that an integrated pest management system that primarily uses preventative and organic methods of agriculture that promote soil health and biodiversity, and relies less on chemical pesticides, can be implemented to support more sustainable agricultural intensification (Zhou, 2024).  It’s possible to use a little bit of both–a lot of prevention, a lot of organic, and minimal amounts of chemical pesticides where necessary.


There has never been a more important time for us to be advocates for integrated pest management.  In the last few months alone, we have seen the EPA approve and re-authorize the use of pesticides, such as dicamba (Associated Press, 2026) and PFA “forever chemicals” (Center for Biological Diversity, 2025), that were previously black-labeled because of their environmental toxicity and persistence respectively; and the recent signing of an executive order that protects the production and use of glyphosate, a pesticide previously under much scientific and regulatory scrutiny (Gillam, 2026).  And despite the well known connection between pesticides and hormonal health, as well as other concerning conditions that include cancer and other chronic diseases, the Make America Healthy Again strategies have rhetorically acknowledged the health risks while simultaneously de-regulating pesticide use and refraining from matching the rhetoric with protective policies (Kalmuss‑Katz, 2026).  

As this has likely been the result from industry backlash (Kalmuss‑Katz, 2026), it is an important call for us to backlash a little louder.  Writing a letter to our congressman costs nothing.  Neither does speaking up.  We care about our health.  And if men at the White House don’t want to deal with a nation full of hot-flashing, hormonal women experiencing menopause way too early in life, they might want to start listening up to what we have to say.


Eating food isn’t the only way we’re exposed to pesticides. Even if you eat nothing but organic food, you might not be able to help tracking in pesticides that drifted in from neighboring farms or yards.  While it might sound trivial, if you live in an agricultural area, or if the city sprays pesticides for landscaping efforts, then check your shoes at the door so you don’t track in anything that drifted your way, wet mop your floors frequently, and close your windows when you know pesticides are being applied.


Use integrative pest management methods in your home. Seal up those cracks in your walls or doors.  Remove sources of food and water that attract insects, such as pet food and standing water.  Use non-chemical repellants, such as citronella or peppermint essential oils, wherever possible (Collaborative for Health & Environment, 2025).  Taking these simple measures can be much more inexpensive than hiring a “bug guy”, so using integrative pest management can not only improve your health, but it can improve your personal funds as well!


Counting calories or tracking pesticides?

Believe me, Ladies, I loudly applaud all the things you are doing to be healthy and stave off menopause until the appropriate day–eating whole foods, exercising daily, prioritizing your sleep, aiming for a healthy body composition.  Let’s keep doing those things.  However, we have to recognize there is an invisible force at work when it comes to our health and even our hormones and our entire midlife experience.  Pesticides must be used responsibly, and in the least amount possible, while we actively limit its ability to make its way into our bodies if we are going to experience optimal health in midlife, menopause, and beyond.


References

Associated Press. (2026, February 6). Trump administration approves weed killer dicamba for two common genetically modified crops. https://apnews.com/article/dicamba-

Center for Biological Diversity. (2025, November 5). Trump EPA approves its first “forever chemical” pesticide. https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/trump-epa-

Collaborative for Health & Environment. (2025, October). Pesticides. https://www.healthandenvironment.org/resources/environmental-hazards/chemicals-and-

Environmental Working Group. (2025a). EWG’s Clean Fifteen™: The least pesticide-contaminated produce. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php

Environmental Working Group. (2025b). EWG’s Dirty Dozen™: The most pesticide-contaminated produce https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

Gillam, C. (2026, February 19). Trump enrages MAHA with order granting “immunity” to glyphosate pesticide production. The New Lede. 

Hyland, C., Bradman, A., Gerona, R., Patton, S., Zakharevich, I., Gunier, R. B., & Klein, K. (2019). Organic diet intervention significantly reduces urinary pesticide levels in U.S. 

children and adults. Environmental research, 171, 568–575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2019.01.024

Inman, Z. C., & Flaws, J. A. (2024). Impact of Real-life Environmental Exposures on Reproduction: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals, reproductive aging, and menopause. 

Reproduction (Cambridge, England), 168(5), e240113. https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-24-0113

Kalmuss‑Katz, J. (2026, January 16). The Trump administration’s MAHA lies. Earthjustice. https://earthjustice.org/feature/trump-maha

Lazarević-Pašti, T., Milanković, V., Tasić, T., Petrović, S., & Leskovac, A. (2025). With or Without You?-A Critical Review on Pesticides in Food. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 

Neff, A. M., Laws, M. J., Warner, G. R., & Flaws, J. A. (2022). The Effects of Environmental Contaminant Exposure on Reproductive Aging and the Menopause Transition.

Current environmental health reports, 9(1), 53–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00334-y

Wang, L., Ma, X., & Liu, J. (2025). Adverse Effects of Pesticides on the Ovary: Evidence from Epidemiological and Toxicological Studies. Environment & health (Washington,

Zhou, W. (2024). Integrated pest management: An update on the sustainability approach to crop protection. ACS Omega. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.4c06628



 
 
 

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